HCL Technologies has bagged the contract for $35 Tablet for 100,000 devices (Watch the review of $35 Tablet).
The device will be tested by IIT Rajasthan and the government has allocated Rs. 30 crore for the project (plans to procure the $35 computers before 10 January).
Ministry officials said IIT-Rajasthan will conduct field trials in different parts of the country, at different times and under different weather conditions, to gauge the efficiency of the computers. If the computers pass the field tests, the government will procure 1 million units in the first phase, making them available to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the country. There are 12.4 million higher education students in India. [source]
What’s important here is that government is also building an open source software for elearning content (specifically for the tablet) and expect this to open up a new business channel for elearning/content companies.
Aside, it’s important to note that the $35 tablet from Indian government comes at a discounted price (just like PDS) for Indian Colleges/Universities and the retail cost (if at all the tablet is made available) will be much more – so maybe, we should stop calling it a $35 tablet!
Video : $35 Tablet from Indian Government
Recommended Read: OLPC Founder’s Advice to Indian Government – “Make an inexpensive tablet, not a cheap one.
